Several prominent businesses headquartered in Minnesota signed on to an amicus brief in support of upholding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Best Buy, Target, Cargill, Ecolab, UnitedHealth Group, and C.H. Robinson all signed the brief filed in the U.S. Supreme Court, which is set to decide the fate of DACA in a November 12 hearing. The Trump administration announced in September 2017 that it would phase out the program, but a number of lower court rulings have forced its continuation.
“Many amici and their members employ individuals who participate in the DACA program – young people who are now able to live and work in the country that has been their home for most of their lives. In addition, amici’s customers and users are DACA recipients; and amici’s businesses benefit from DACA recipients’ contributions to the overall economy through their tax payments, spending, and investments,” the amicus brief begins.
The brief was signed by more than 140 businesses who have “a strong interest in the DACA recipients’ continued ability to work and participate in our country’s economy and in our society generally.”
“By expanding the opportunities available to DACA recipients, this program has benefited America’s companies, our nation’s economy, and all Americans. Indeed, employment of DACA recipients expands work opportunities for everyone, because employment is not a zero-sum game. DACA recipients are filling vacancies at companies that otherwise would not be able to attract workers for open positions,” the brief continues.
The amicus brief was organized by the Coalition for the American Dream, a group of business leaders dedicated to finding a permanent solution for DACA recipients. The brief argues that the Department of Homeland Security’s determination to rescind DACA is “wrong,” since DACA “closely resembles deferred action programs adopted in the past.”
“DACA enabled more than 825,000 individuals to come out of the shadows, participate in the economy, and contribute to U.S. companies and the economy, which benefits us all. Rescinding DACA will harm not only individual recipients and their families, friends, and co-workers, but also the many U.S. businesses that count on them to help fuel continued innovation and economic growth,” the brief adds.
Other companies like Verizon, Airbnb, Facebook, Ikea, Starbucks, Tesla, IBM, and Marriott signed the amicus brief.
“Airbnb was founded on the idea that people to people connections enrich our lives and advances the human condition,” the company said in a press release along with statements from other businesses. “Those aren’t just economic or business values, they’re the values of America. Our purpose is to create a world where anyone can belong anywhere, which is why we’re honored to join other members of the Coalition for the American Dream in today’s announcement and amicus brief.”
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of Battleground State News, The Ohio Star, and The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Corporate Logos by their respective trademark holders, as listed at Coalition for the American Dream.
Time to send those poor mistreated “children” back to their home country.